Unnao victim sought to travel without security, say cops; Priyanka slams BJP

Uttar Pradesh DGP O.P. Singh on Monday declared there was no negligence in providing security to the victim of the Unnao rape case.

The Unnao victim, two of her aunts and their lawyer sustained serious injuries in the accident, which occurred as an over-speeding truck hit the car they were travelling in in Rae Bareli on Sunday. Another aunt of the victim succumbed to her injuries in a district hospital. The main accused in the rape case, which occurred in 2018, was BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar.

Singh was quoted by ANI as saying “there was no negligence in her security. Due to lack of space in her vehicle, she requested the security personnel deputed for security not to accompany her to Rae Bareli.” Singh added that preliminary investigations suggested “It was purely an accident due to an over-speeding truck. Truck driver and owner have been arrested. If the family demands a CBI inquiry into the case, we'll hand over the case to CBI.”

However, political mudslinging over the Unnao victim's accident has erupted. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday asked whether there can be any hope for justice from the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.

Taking to Twitter, Priyanka said the accident involving the Unnao rape victim was shocking. Priyanka asked, “Where has the CBI probe into the (Unnao) case reached? Why is the accused MLA still in the BJP? Why was security loosened for the victim and witnesses?” Priyanka declared that without answers to these questions, “Is there any hope for justice from the BJP government?”

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday issued a statement alleging the accident involving the Unnao victim “could be a conspiracy to kill her” and sought a CBI probe into the mishap.

"This incident has links with a BJP MLA and there is BJP government in the state. There is 'jungle raj' in the state. The criminals are roaming fearlessly. Only a CBI probe will solve this mystery," Akhilesh declared.

The Samajwadi Party added that three of its MLCs had gone to the trauma hospital where the Unnao victim and her injured relatives were taken. The Samajwadi Party declared it would bear the cost of treatment of the injured.